Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge

Central Reserves

Rating: Mid-range

highlights

Run by a well-known tiger and nature conservationist
See tigers, leopards, sloth bears and deer
Nature and bird watching walks in the gardens
Cosy cottages and villas
Al fresco dining
Delicious home-grown organic produce

Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge overview

Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge is run by a grandson of the founder of Project Tiger, who is a passionate advocate of of tiger and nature conservation, and is supported by a committed and helpful team of staff. The lodge has 21 homely rooms and 4 hectares of grounds, ideal for strolls and guided nature walks. The entrance to Bandhavgarh National Park is just 500 metres away, so access couldn't be quicker or easier.

There are 2 styles of rooms: individual cottages arranged around a courtyard, and villa bedrooms, all with indoor and outdoor seating areas and en-suite bathrooms with full running water. They are designed to recreate the semblance of an Indian village and provide cosy and comfy accommodation.

Meals are served in the open-sided dining room set underneath a thatched roof, allowing you to enjoy views of the gardens and sounds of birdsong as you dine. There are additional dining areas outdoors including the main veranda and the Gole Ghar, a shaded circular seating area. The courtyard is the other main social area where guests mingle and relax.

Jeep safaris in Bandhavgarh are for many guests the highlight of a stay here. Taking place twice a day, early morning and late afternoon, they enable you to spend 3-4 hours exploring the national park and searching for leopard, sloth bear, deer and, of course, tiger. You are accompanied by a naturalist guide to help you make the most of your safari. It is also possible to take an elephant-back safari, getting deeper into the park and offering the chance of close-up animal sightings. Other activities include village visits, and guided nature and bird watching walks in the lodge's grounds. There are also facilities for badminton and volleyball.

details

Open: Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge is open from 1st October to 30th June each year.

Location: The lodge is just 500m from the Tala entrance of Bandhavgarh National Park. The closest airports are at Jabalpur (200kms and a 4-hour drive) and Khajuraho (280kms and a 4-5 hour drive). The lodge has 4 hectares of grounds.

Rooms: There are 21 guest rooms in total, made up of 13 cottages and 8 bedrooms in 2 villas. Cottages. They are a mix of singles, twins and doubles, and all are en-suite with hot and cold running water for the shower and hand basin. Hot water bottles are provided on chilly nights. All rooms have a writing desk, chairs and luggage storage.

Activities: Explore Bandhavgarh National Park by open jeep in the morning and evening for between 3 and 4 hours and with the services of the lodge’s naturalist. Elephant back rides in the park are offered subject to availability. Go for a walk in the lodge’s gardens watching birds and butterflies, as well as the occasional langur monkey and spotted deer. Guided birding tours are arranged, too, as are visits to the medicinal plant and organic vegetable gardens. If you're feeling more active there are facilities for badminton and volleyball, and bicycles are available, as well as more cerebral pursuits such as chess. The lodge arranges guided visits to local villages and schools. After dark you can do some star gazing with the help of the lodge’s telescope.

Facilities: There is an open-sided, thatched restaurant, and a terrace for outdoor dining, and a library where you are welcome to browse among the books. The lodge also has a collection of wildlife DVDs you can watch. The central courtyard is used for relaxing and socialising, and is the site of the daily campfire. The Gole Gahr is a shaded seating area facing the forest and waterhole, sometimes used for musical performances in the evenings. The gardens have been planted with fruit trees, while other areas of the grounds have been left to nature.

Dining: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, and morning and evening tea and coffee are included in your stay. Indian and international dishes are served. The organic vegetable garden and medicinal plant garden (herbs) supply many of the ingredients.

Children: Children of all ages are welcome. Activities suitable for children include guided nature walks, bike rides and bird watching.

Health: We recommend malaria prophylactics for travel to India.

Communication: There is Wi-Fi internet access.

GUY